How a NYC Firm Landed $500M in Contracts — and What You Can Learn from Them

Skip the Pitch Deck Panic: How Strategic Positioning, Not Just Grit, Attracts the Right Investors

Introduction: When Grit Isn’t Enough

What if your next big contract didn’t hinge on who you knew, but on how well you positioned your company to be seen? In today’s hyper-competitive market, too many founders operate in silos—overworked, under-supported, and armed with little more than ambition and a dozen open Chrome tabs. It’s like trying to build a brownstone with bricks and hope, but no architectural plan.

That’s where 3rd Level Ventures comes in: not just a business advisory, but a strategic partner for founders looking to scale sustainably. Take IS43 Consulting—a full-fledged consulting organization based in New York City. Specializing in securing federal, state, and local contracts for minority-owned businesses, IS43 secured over $500 million in contracts within five years. Through services like deal structuring, lobbying, payment collections, contract administration, and project management, IS43 has become a vital force in leveling the playing field for underserved businesses.

As Melinda Gates aptly put it, “When we invest in women and minority entrepreneurs, we invest in the people who invest in their communities.” The real question is: are you building for survival, or scale?

Why Founders Burn Out Before They Break Through

When Gwendelyn launched her consulting firm from a small Brooklyn co-working space, she was armed with a laptop, a dream, and a spreadsheet she titled “Freedom Plan.” But dreams alone don’t secure contracts. She had no roadmap into government procurement, no pipeline of mission-aligned investors—and no time to learn the intricacies of either. She pitched. She pivoted. She prayed.

By the sixth month, her business was running on fumes. At a local networking event, someone joked, “Even carpenters use blueprints—why are founders winging it?” That line struck deeper than expected. That night, she searched for startup advisory firms with real traction. One name kept coming up: Third Level Ventures.

The truth is, too many entrepreneurs—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—lack access to institutional-grade intelligence. They don’t track performance indicators, map stakeholder influence, or have systems to prove they’re funding-ready. As a result, they either miss out on growth opportunities or fail to justify their worth at the investor table.

Meanwhile, the landscape is shifting. In the 2023–24 fiscal year, New York State awarded nearly $3 billion in contracts to Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs)—an all-time high. The opportunity is real. But without a clear plan, most never even make it to the shortlist.

Building More Than Businesses: A Blueprint for Scalable Success

It’s easy to be impressed by the numbers: over $500 million in secured contracts, a proven track record of empowering minority-owned businesses, and a reputation for delivering strategic value. But beyond the figures lies a replicable model—one that transforms potential into progress through strategic guidance, precise execution, and an unwavering commitment to community empowerment. This is the ethos driving 3rd Level Ventures, and the reason businesses are choosing purpose-driven growth over uncertainty, securing long-term success in competitive markets.

At its core, 3LV isn’t just another consultancy—it’s a launchpad. The firm’s Startup Incubation & Mentorship program was designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are, equipping them with hands-on coaching, investor-aligned frameworks, and the clarity needed to navigate complex market terrain. Instead of throwing jargon-laden toolkits at founders, 3LV teaches them how to pitch with precision, attract capital intelligently, and scale sustainably.

For ventures beyond the seed stage, 3LV’s Strategic Advisory Services offer executive-level insights into acquisitions, expansion planning, and market positioning—especially vital for minority-owned and SME-led enterprises that often face systemic funding gaps. Schelton Assoumou, one of 3LV’s most recognized mentors, emphasizes a values-first approach: “Our job is to ensure founders aren’t just building businesses—they’re building legacies.”

Each engagement begins with a comprehensive business audit, leading to dynamic KPI-based execution plans. These aren’t static strategies—they evolve alongside the business, fortified by continual advisory input and optimization support.

Want evidence it works? Programs like the Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator echo this same mentorship-first model—with alumni now raising millions and surpassing billion-dollar valuations. The message is clear: with the right guidance, breakthrough growth is within reach.

Where Strategy Outpaces Serendipity

Securing $500 million in contracts doesn’t happen by accident. It takes more than a sharp pitch or an impressive portfolio—it requires trust, timing, and relentless precision. For IS43 Consulting, the turning point came not from luck, but from a strategic alignment with 3rd Level Ventures. The result? A remarkable rise from underdog to industry leader, securing millions in contracts across various sectors. Their success wasn’t just about showing up—it was engineered through targeted business development strategies and an approach that turned cold outreach into signed, high-value contracts.

Third Level Ventures doesn’t deal in hypotheticals. Their incubator model has become a launchpad for companies like SMA Development, which transformed an idea into 20 operational modular homes now reshaping urban housing solutions. These aren’t outliers. They’re case studies in disciplined growth, reflecting a framework that’s scalable, sustainable, and above all—credible.

So what’s behind this engine of transformation? Leadership with lived experience. With over 60 years of combined expertise spanning Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and global development, Third Level’s executive team brings insight that extends beyond spreadsheets. Schelton Assoumou, a principal architect of the firm’s ethos, believes in backing purpose with performance—where impact metrics carry as much weight as income statements. He’s not alone. The firm’s advisory board includes veterans from JP Morgan, Google Cloud, Chevron, and the World Bank, offering founders an arsenal of wisdom few startups could access alone.

As investor Sagar Rabadiya notes: “Credibility precedes capital. Investors don’t fund ideas—they fund execution.” The lesson? Skip the panic. Build the proof.

Beyond the Check: Finding the Right Investor Fit

For Gwendelyn, founder and managing partner at IS43 Consulting, success has never been about luck or flashy presentations—it’s been about earning trust. With over $500 million in secured contracts, including more than $300 million in City, State, and Federal contracts over five years, Gwen’s team has built a model rooted in clarity, credibility, and strategic alignment. Their impressive portfolio includes 50 non-profit clients, 20 lobbying clients on monthly retainers, and successful negotiations of 12 hotel contracts for asylum seekers, as well as catering and security contracts. The takeaway? Real traction begins long before the pitch—when the business itself is positioned for success.

In the race to raise capital, the loudest question isn’t always shouted—it’s often murmured quietly between founders, over coffee shop tables or at the edges of crowded pitch events: How do you attract the right investors? Not just anyone with a checkbook—but the right partners, the kind who show up for the long haul.

Through his Financial Strategy & Capital Advisory services, Schelton Assoumou guides founders to trade desperation for discipline. That means defining sustainable projections, tightening operational logic, and having the courage to decline capital that doesn’t serve the long game. As he often says, “Money alone doesn’t solve your problems. The wrong money multiplies them.”

Industry voices echo this philosophy. Organizations like VentureWell stress the importance of values-based fundraising—where investor alignment supports innovation rather than steers it off course. Yes, funding fast can feel urgent. But funding right creates resilience.

In a capital-hungry ecosystem, the smarter question might be: Do your investors believe in your vision—or just your metrics? For leaders like Schelton Assoumou, the answer has made all the difference.

Conclusion

What if your next big idea didn’t just raise eyebrows—but raised capital? At Third Level Ventures, we don’t just help you pitch—we help you prepare. Our Brooklyn-born firm has helped entrepreneurs secure over $500 million in contracts, turning kitchen-table concepts into market-ready enterprises. Whether you’re navigating your first funding round or seeking scale for a growing company, we connect you with the right investors—and teach you how to speak their language. Because aligned capital changes everything.

When Gwen first launched her consulting firm from a shared workspace in Brooklyn, she brought heart, hustle, and a spreadsheet labeled Freedom Plan. But what she didn’t have—yet—was a strategy for scaling. That changed the moment she partnered with Third Level Ventures. Through hands-on mentorship and investor-readiness coaching, Gwen not only secured her first major contract—she built momentum.

This is what The Blueprint stands for: not just dreams, but structure. Not just pitching, but positioning. With the right guidance, connections, and credibility, founders like Gwen—and you—can break past the noise and into real negotiations.

The takeaway? Sustainable success isn’t about chasing every check. It’s about choosing aligned partners who believe in your vision and can back it with capital. You don’t need a perfect deck—you need a plan that works.

Ready to scale with intention? Contact us and let’s build your next big leap. Visit www.ThirdLevelVentures.com or call (212) 555-3060.